For a while there I was worried you'd gone and done the phxphotog and deleted all your content. It didn't seem in character for you though, so I figured I'd ask. Glad to know you're still on board (no pun intended ).

ok, whatchgot in MN? i am about 20 miles from the MN border and willing to drive for good ice!!

north shore, gooseberry, taylors falls, the bluffs, don't know of any good ice down by you but I'm sure you'll find it. Look for river gorges. The sip and the croix both have spots up and down for good climbing. If the wind gods and the snow gods and the temp gods get together just so... you'd be surprised what you will find. Or ...you could just freeze your silo and save the gas. Or not live in Iowa. Have fun.

i like the last one. i am looking at a job in cody, and i heard there may be some smacking good ice up there

If you are looking for the ice in Minnesota a good place to start is the Mississippi river valley between Minneapolis and St Paul. The "Frozen Mississippi" climbs include the brickyards, homer, ivy and Franklin bridge. Theses routes are not vary long but they have very short approaches.
Another ice climbing spot in in Sandstone Minnesota, the climbs here are know for the steep, thin mixed rock and ice routes. Be sure and check out the Sandstone Ice Festival, December 11-13, 2009. Demo gear, clinics, guest speakers and fireworks.
There a re a few good climbs on the north shore of Lake Superior but the Mecca of Midwest ice climbing is in Nipigon.

The MN north shore of L. Superior has a whole week worth of routes, from WI2 to backcountryish 2pitch WI4, and a quarry full of bolted mixed climbing. Most of them have very short approaches, and all of them are in beautiful river canyons that feel absolutely wild (even if you're only a quarter mile from the highway).

There are a few places to climb in Mpls/St. Paul area, but I would just drive the extra hour and a halfish to Sandstone and spend a weekend there.

Nipigon and the Thunder Bay area in Canada has the best climbing between Ouray/Silverton and the east coast. The routes in Nipigon are mostly multipitch or at least manditory leads, and there's everything from cutting edge trad-mixed to cruiser WI2. Plus, most of the climbs are right on the highway. It's really a fantastic area. Wild, remote, and beautiful.

i will be heading to Sandstone Dec 18...PM me if you are in the area (especially if you have more ice screws....sold all of mine a couple years back and now i don't live near my pals with massive piles of stuff anymore)